Risk Factors for Prevalence, Incidence and Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy among Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes in Taiwan

Abstract

Purpose: : To identify the risk factors for prevalence, incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy among non-insulin dependent diabetes in Taiwan

Methods: : A retrospective review of the type II diabetic patients in the data bank of Diabetes Shared Care System in Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital enrolled from 2002 to 2009. A retinopathy severity score was assigned according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) Diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity scale.

Results: : 901 subjects were collected, including 500 males and 401 females. 230 subjects (25.53%) had DR at enrollment. Subject with DR were more likely to have hypertension, impaired renal function, longer duration of diabetes, suboptimal HbA_1c and blood pressure. 248 patients had complete 5-year follow up, most of them improved their glycemic control during follow up. The overall 5-year cumulative incidence of DR was 19.58 % and the cumulative incidence of progression was 25.49%. Age, HbA_1c, duration and mean arterial blood pressure were significantly related to incidence of DR over the 5-year follow up, while only the first two were associated with progression.

Conclusions: : High HbA_1c level was the most important factor associated with prevalence, incidence and progression of DR in Taiwanese type II diabetes.

Keywords: diabetic retinopathy